Lead-through device

ABSTRACT

A lead-through device insertable in holes drilled in a concrete floor and the like for leading cables or wires from below to above the floor of a building structure which protects the cable or wires from contact with the concrete and has a resilient hood which extends above the floor a short distance to protect the wires or cable.

United States Patent Majors [54] LEAD-THROUGH DEVICE [72] Inventor: Oliver W. Mm'ors, PO. Box 1781, Corpus Christi, Tex. 78403 [22] Filed: Feb. 17, 1969 211 App1.No.: 799,659

[52] US. CL ..16/2, 174/153 G [51] Int. Cl. ..Fl6l 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..16/2;174/83,167,153,153 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 912,364 2/1909 Conrad ..174/ 152.2 1,235,184 7/1917 Casbarian.. ..16/2 X 2,916,540 12/1959 Rostan ..174/153 X Feb. 22, 1972 3,059,047 10/1962 Rogers t ..174/153 A 3,162,411 12/1964 Duggan ..174/153 G X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 667,393 2/1952 Great Britain ..174/153 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney-Walter J. J agmin ABSTRACT A lead-through device insertable in holes drilled in a concrete floor and the like for leading cables or wires from below to above the floor of a building structure which protects the cable or wires from contact with the concrete and has a resilient hood which extends above the floor a short distance to protect the wires or cable.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LEAD-THROUGH DEVICE This invention relates to lead-through devices for cables, wires and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved lead-through device for cables, wires and the like which may be easily installed in apertures in such members of a building structure as floors, walls and the like from one side of such members.

Another object is to provide a wire lead-through device having an elongate tubular insert which is insertable in a bore or hole of a floor to extend thereinto and is provided with means for preventing movement thereof upwardly from the hole and a stop means engageable with the top surface of the floor for limiting its downward movement.

Still another object is to provide a lead-through device having an elongate resilient hood securable to the insert which extends upwardly from the floor to protect the portion of the wire or cable adjacent to the floor.

Still another object is to provide a lead-through device which is of simple, economical construction and which is easily and quickly installable in a bore or hole of a building structure.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, sectional view showing a lead-through device embodying the invention installed in a bore of a concrete floor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the lead-through device;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tubular insert of the lead-through device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the springs of the tubular device; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dog of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the lead-through device 10 includes an elongate tubular insert 11 which is insertable in a bore or hole 12 of the floor 13 of a building structure. The hole is preferably of substantially the same diameter as the external diameter of the insert so that the insert has a friction fit in the hole. The tubular insert also hasa pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal recesses 14 and 14a adjacent its lower end.

The insert has sockets or slots 15 and 16 which open downwardly and upwardly, respectively, to the recess 14 and similar slots or sockets 15a and 16a which open to the recess 14a. The lower ends of a dog 17 and an arcuate spring 18 are received in the lower socket 16 and fit sufficiently loosely therein that the dog may pivot in a counterclockwise manner as seen in FIG. 1 and 3. The dog is biased in this direction by the arcuate spring 18 to cause its top knife edge 19 to engage the surfaces of the floor defining the hole 12 and thus prevent upward movement of the tubular insert in the hole. The upper end of the arcuate spring 18 is received in the top socket 15. The other dog 17a and the spring 18a similarly have their lower ends received disposed in the bottom socket 16a and the upper end of the spring 18a is received in the socket 15a.

As the tubular insert is moved downwardly into the hole, the middle portions of the springs 18 and 18a are flexed inwardly as the dogs are pivoted inwardly into the sockets 14 and 14a and resiliently bias the upper ends of the dogs outwardly and into engagement'with the surface of the floor defining the hole.

Downward movement of the tubular insert is limited by a stop ring 20 whose inner end portion extends above the annular top edge surface 21 of the tubular insert and below the external flange 22 of the tubular screw 23 which is received in the internally threaded top portion 24 of the tubular insert.

The hood 25 of the lead-through device has a frustoconical upper portion 26 and a cylindrical bottom portion 27 which is adapted to fit over the flange 22 of the screw 23. The hood 25 is formed of a somewhat resilient substance such as plastic,

rubber or the like and its cylindrical portion 27 may deform or stretch as it is telescoped over the flange 22 which may be of hexagonal configuration. Alternatively, the cylindrical bottom portion may be provided with an internal recess 28 of the same configuration as the external configuration of the flange 22 and have a tight friction fit therewith. The internal diameter of the top narrow end of the hood is preferably substantially equal to the diameter of the cable C which is to extend through the lead-through device.

A frustoconical retainer ring 30 is telescoped over the bottom cylindrical portion 27 of the hood so that its inner edge 31 of small diameter engages the hood while its lower edge of large diameter rests on the floor covering 32 which may be a rug, linoleum or the like. The floor covering may be regarded as being part of the floor.

In use, as is the usual practice the floors of the building are poured and thereafter, depending upon the desires of the particular user of a certain area of such floors, it is necessary to bring cables or wires, for the operation of telephones, lights, electrically operated office equipment and the like, upwardly through the floor at various locations depending upon the locations of desks, tables and the like. At each such location, the aperture 34 is cut in the floor covering if it is already laid and a hole 12 is then drilled through the floor. The assembly of the tubular insert, the dogs and springs, the stop ring and the screw 23 is then positioned above such hole and the tubular insert is moved downwardly therethrough until the top ring engages the top surface of the floor. Since the external diameter of the insert is substantially equal to the diameter of the hole, hammer blows may have to be imparted to the top end of the screw to drive the insert through the hole. During this downward movement of the tubular insert through the hole 12 the upper ends of the dogs of course engage the internal surfaces of the floor defining the hole 12 and slide therealong downwardly, the engagement of the top edges of the dogs with the downwardly facing surfaces of the insert outwardly of the recesses 15 and 15a limiting downward movement of the insert relative to the dogs.

Alternatively, the tubular insert by itself may be similarly inserted into the hole until its top end surface is positioned just below the top surface of the floor, and the screw is then telescoped through the stop ring and threaded in the top end of the insert. As the screw is threaded in the insert and its downward movement is stopped due to the engagement of the stop ring with the floor, any further rotation of the screw causes an upward force to be exerted on the insert which then may move upwardly a very short distance and cause its dogs to bite into the floor and thus limit or prevent further upward movement of the insert in the hole. As a result, the insert is then held very rigidly in the floor. The floor covering may then be laid and an appropriate aperture 34 formed in the floor covering at the location of the lead-through device.

The cable C is then moved upwardly through the insert and through the hood. The bottom cylindrical portion 27 of the hood is then press fitted over the flange 22 of the screw 23 and the retainer ring is next slid down over the hood to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The inner edge 31 of the retainer ring has an internal diameter somewhat slightly smaller than the external diameter of the cylindrical portion so that the inner top edge of the retainer ring tends to compress the resilient cylindrical portion as it moves downwardly thereon and its lower end is pushed downwardly against the floor covering. The retainer ring then helps hold the hood against displacement from the screw flange. The resilient hood now protects the cable at the locations where it is most apt to be damaged, that is adjacent the floor, as by the feet of the occupants of the building and also helps hold the cable centered through the tubular insert so that the cable does not tend to engage the insert or the screw to prevent abrasion of the insulation of the cable.

It will now be seen that a new and improved lead-through device has been illustrated and described which is of simple structure and is easily installed in a hole drilled in a floor, wall or the like.

It will further be seen that the retainer ring by shielding the edges of the floor covering at the location of the hole or aperture 34 thereof prevents undue wear or damage to the floor covering and at the same time improves the appearance thereof.

It will further be seen that the lead-through device includes a tubular member such as the tubular insert 11 which is insertable in a hole in a building member such as a floor or wall and that while the insert may be held in the hole by a friction fit, it is preferable that the tubular insert be provided with means, such as the dogs and springs, for preventing movement of the tubular insert in such hole in one direction and with stop means, such as the stop ring and screw 23, for limiting its movement in the opposite direction.

It will further be seen that the lead-through device includes a somewhat resilient hood which is connectable to the insert, as by the press or friction fit with the screw flange 22, and which has an upwardly convergent frustoconical portion through whose narrow top end a cable or wires may extend.

It will further be seen that the lead-through device may include a frustoconical retainer ring which telescopes over the bottom cylindrical portion of the hood to help hold the hold in position on the flange and also conceal the aperture formed in a floor covering which may extend over the stop ring and to the outer surface of the bottom cylindrical portion of the hood.

It will further be seen that the installation of the leadthrough device is easily and quickly accomplished without requiring that holes be provided in the floor at the time of the forming thereof.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A lead-through device installable in a hole extending through a building member, said device including: an elongate tubular member insertable in one direction into a hole extending through a building member, said tubular member having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the hole; stop means connected to one end of said tubular member engageable with the building member for limiting What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent 7 movement of said tubular member in one direction through said hole; a resilient tubular hood having an enlarged end portion connected to said insert and a frustoconical portion extending and tapering outwardly from said enlarged portion, said hood extending longitudinally outwardly relative to said building member in a direction opposite said one direction; and retainer means telescopical over said hood and engageable with said enlarged portion and the building member.

2. The lead-through device of claim 1, wherein said retainer means comprises a frustoconical ring having a large end portion engageable with the building member and an upper outer portion of small diameter engageable with said enlarged portion of said hood.

3. The lead-through device of claim 2, and second means carried by said tubular member engageable with the building member in the hole for preventing movement of said tubular member in the hole in a direction opposite said one direction.

4. The lead-through device of claim 3, wherein said second means comprise outwardly biased clog means for engaging the building member.

5. A lead-through device for wires, cables and the like installable in a hole extending through a floor, said device including: an elongate tubular member insertable downwardly into a hole in a floor, said tubular member having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the hole; stop means connected to the top end of said tubular member for engaging the top surface of the floor and limiting downward movement of the tubular member through the hole; a resilient tubular hood having an enlarged lower end portion connectable to said tubular member to extend upwardly from the hole and an annular retainer means telescoped over said hood and engaged therewith and engageable with the top surface of the floor for holding said hood against displacement from said flange.

6. The lead-through device of claim 5, wherein said retainer means comprises a frustoconical ring having a large end portion engageable with the top surface of the floor and an upper end portion of small diameter engaged with said hood.

7. The lead-through device of claim 6, and second means carried by said tubular member engageable with the floor in the hole for preventing upward movement of the tubular member in the hole.

8. The lead-through device of claim 7, wherein said second means comprises outwardly biased dog means. 

1. A lead-through device installable in a hole extending through a building member, said device including: an elongate tubular member insertable in one direction into a hole extending through a building member, said tubular member having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the hole; stop means connected to one end of said tubular member engageable with the building member for limiting movement of said tubular member in one direction through said hole; a resilient tubular hood having an enlarged end portion connected to said insert and a frustoconical portion extending and tapering outwardly from said enlarged portion, said hood extending longitudinally outwaRdly relative to said building member in a direction opposite said one direction; and retainer means telescopical over said hood and engageable with said enlarged portion and the building member.
 2. The lead-through device of claim 1, wherein said retainer means comprises a frustoconical ring having a large end portion engageable with the building member and an upper outer portion of small diameter engageable with said enlarged portion of said hood.
 3. The lead-through device of claim 2, and second means carried by said tubular member engageable with the building member in the hole for preventing movement of said tubular member in the hole in a direction opposite said one direction.
 4. The lead-through device of claim 3, wherein said second means comprise outwardly biased dog means for engaging the building member.
 5. A lead-through device for wires, cables and the like installable in a hole extending through a floor, said device including: an elongate tubular member insertable downwardly into a hole in a floor, said tubular member having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the hole; stop means connected to the top end of said tubular member for engaging the top surface of the floor and limiting downward movement of the tubular member through the hole; a resilient tubular hood having an enlarged lower end portion connectable to said tubular member to extend upwardly from the hole and an annular retainer means telescoped over said hood and engaged therewith and engageable with the top surface of the floor for holding said hood against displacement from said flange.
 6. The lead-through device of claim 5, wherein said retainer means comprises a frustoconical ring having a large end portion engageable with the top surface of the floor and an upper end portion of small diameter engaged with said hood.
 7. The lead-through device of claim 6, and second means carried by said tubular member engageable with the floor in the hole for preventing upward movement of the tubular member in the hole.
 8. The lead-through device of claim 7, wherein said second means comprises outwardly biased dog means. 